Backyard chicken retention is an increasingly popular hobby that is experiencing a revival . More and more cities are seethe back ordinances that preclude maintain Gallus gallus on your property , leading to an uptick in interest . There are hundreds of different type of chickens to opt from – hybrids , heritage breed , crosses . One of those breeds is the Red Star poulet . It ’s an interesting hybrid type of wimp that produces a short ton of eggs every year .

All aboutRed Star Chickens

When it comes to picking the right strain of volaille for your home or farm , knowing the BASIC of the stock will aid you make that decision .

Red Star chickens were in the beginning bred in the 1900 ’s to produce larger eggs due to demand for them commercially . They were create by breeding a Rhode Island Red cock to a Rhode Island White hen . Backyard land was becoming less coarse and necessitate Farmer to produce more and large ballock for families to eat .

Temperament

Red Star crybaby have very pleasant behavior and does n’t take much to get on their good side . A mint of kindness on your own can go a long way too , of course . It ’s honorable to note that these chickens tend to vanish and roost somewhere that seems comfortable to them . If you want to avoid your chickens from flying , it may be a good musical theme to confine in a enough coop / chicken run or nip their plumage .

When it comes to roosters , and this give to just about every breed of chicken , if you treat them with deference and are kind , they will typically return the favour . Knowing their bound and read their body words is important . If , despite all your best campaign , your Red Star cock wo n’t turn back being aggressive , it may be good to remove him from the flock and count for a nice rooster .

Purpose

Red Star chickens are considered to be a dual aim breed and can be raised for both eggs and inwardness . If you ’re just desire the eggs , then you have find a great starting chicken breed . Red Star chickens will produce all year , despite the rut or cold , and have some of the big eggs you could ask for . leaven Red Star chickens for pith is also not out of the motion . Considering that a single hen can matter about 6 pound and a male being 8 lb might be worth more than the testis . Whatever route you select , this chicken can do the job .

Breed standards

This breed of chicken is easy to sexual urge before they are amply matured adult . virile chicks will appear lighter with yellowish white feathers and hens will be slightly darker with reddish - orange tree feather . However , Red Star volaille are not imply to reproduce considering that this breed is a hybrid and will not retain the same characteristics in future generations .

Coop and run

Chickens tend to pick up bad behaviour when their cage and run are n’t up to their standards , so making sure you have the appropriate cook and run for your Red Star chickens is vitally important .

Red Star chickens like to have pot of henhouse and lead space to go about the business of being a good chicken . The more space you’re able to put up them , the happy they ’ll be and the more eggs they ’ll lie . Red Star chicken should be cater 10 or more square feet of free - range area per birdie .

Chicken run and coops should be kept right cleaned out and render with unfermented stalk regularly . At least one nest box per repose biddy is preferred , although they can tolerate “ buddying up ” and laying eggs in the same nest boxful . These Gallus gallus are know to cheat some and will now and again find originative places to lie their testis .

red star chickens

Common Red Star chicken problems

There are n’t really any problems that are specific to Red Star chicken that are n’t known to any other strain of chickens . However , because they are such great orchis layers , they may involve more provender than your average chicken and may be more susceptible to testis binding . The amount of energy spent laying those large brown eggs cry for big fiesta !

Viral diseases

Chickens are susceptible to a number of viral unwellness , including Marek ’s disease , avian influenza , poultry pox , Newcastle disease , and bronchitis . Some of these conditions are more common than others . polarity of a viral contagion among your chickens include sneezing , coughing , reduced egg output , reduced eating , phlegm , discharge around the eyes and sinuses , sore , and palsy in the case of Newcastle disease .

Most skirt acquired from a reputable breeder or hatchery are vaccinated against the more common viral infections , like Marek ’s . biddy acquire from smaller - musical scale sellers may not be inoculate . Always call for if your bird have been immunise and what they ’re vaccinated for .

Bacterial illness

Bacterial infection are a real concern for chickens , as coops , runs , and the outdoors , in general , can be haven for bacteria . The most coarse bacterial contagion for chickens are salmonellosis and colibacillosis . These infections can be tight spreading and taint intact spate .

Signs your chickens may be struggling with a bacterial infection include reduced egg laying , breathing problem , reduce appetite , and destruction . Salmonellosis does n’t always present symptom in chickens .

Fungal diseases

The two most common type of fungal diseases are brooder pneumonia and ringworm . Ringworm can be spread to homo as well , so if you suspect your chickens have ringworm , handle them cautiously and wash your hands and clothes instantly .

Brooder pneumonia tends to only taint untested bird spending their first few weeks in a incubator . Ringworm usually clear up on its own with fourth dimension . preserve brooders and hencoop unclouded is key to void these fungous transmission .

Parasitic infection

Like most of our pets , chickens can experience leechlike transmission . insect , ticks , dirt ball , and hint are some of the more vulgar ones . Symptoms of these sponge let in loss of appetence , sluggishness , skin irritation , and unexpected red of feather outside of normal molting .

Be suspicious of used coop . Always disinfect them thoroughly before introducing your chicken . Replace coop bedding often and sporadically disinfect poulet coops to repress the presence of parasites .

Injuries

It can be a gravelly and tumble lifespan for chickens as they go about found pecking orders and forage for food . Injuries , peculiarly fundament wound , are n’t uncommon . Most Earth’s surface - level trauma will pull in up on their own , but foot injury are particularly occupy as the chickens ’ talons tend to come into contact with their own manure as well as other pathogens in the soil and on the solid ground .

Common signs of a foot injury are difficulty walking or arrange weight on the metrical foot as well as lethargy . In the case of bumblefoot , a type of staph contagion , both the chickens ’ digits and sometimes intact infantry can become egotistical with pus - filled abscess . infantry injuries should be treated and bandage as shortly as they are note .

Egg binding

Egg binding is an often tragical issue for chickens . It ’s caused when an egg becomes stuck between the hen ’s uterus and sewerage . sign of egg bandaging admit weakness , inability to alight , often choose to sit or lie on the ground , strain , and a lack of nut position . Egg dressing can rapidly become a fatal condition and will generally require a trip to an avian vet to fix .

“Pasty butt”

Pasty butt , sometimes call pasty vent , is a fairly common term that afflict chick . It can promptly become a life - threatening issue if not addressed . Pasty vent incline to be triggered by tenseness and desiccation . It happens when thick toilet block the chick ’s vent-hole , preventing it from passing muck .

finally , the bird will become ominous and turn down to eat . Signs of pasty rump admit smaller chick size and a viscid mat of muck over the vent . This condition is easily treated by cleaning the bear upon area and hit the stuck dung .

BreedingRed Star Chickens

multiply Red Star chickens wo n’t needs lead in more scarlet stars . You ’ll probably end up with a genetical mixing of the grandparent raspberry . spawn a Rhode Island Red rooster to a Rhode Island White biddy   will produce a Red Star chicken . A proportion of 10 hens for every cock will typically yield good fertility rate . you could allow a broody hen to sit down on her ball or hatch them in an incubator . A quick guide to hatch :

For more information , curb out our comprehensive template onincubating volaille eggs .

What to feedRed Star Chickens

Up until about 16 hebdomad old , your Red Star chicks should be fed a commercial-grade chick appetizer feed with 18 % protein . This added protein will help your vernal chicks grow and develop into healthy birds . After 16 weeks , they can be switched to a 16 % protein bed provender to support healthy feathers and good egg production . Chickens bask being put out to pastures where they can eat grass , bug , and other plants . They will also fain eat some fruits , vegetables , grain , and leafy greens . costless - ranging your wench will also cut back down significantly on your feed costs .

For more information , tally out ourcomprehensive guidebook on what foods chickens can and can not eat .